IE 11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

Wisconsin Senator Introduces Clean Water Bill

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has released the Water Technology Acceleration Act in order to discover new methods for testing and keeping water safe for consumption.

(TNS) -- Adding to the conversation around safe drinking water that is going on in the halls of Congress, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has introduced her own water-related legislation, her office said Monday.

The U.S. Senate has been working to deliver an aid package to Flint, Mich., where water in aging pipes has resulted in lead poisoning. Flint's problems have opened up a broader debate about the condition of drinking water infrastructure and water policies around the country. The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that it would take $384 billion of spending by 2030 to continue providing clean drinking water to all Americans.

"Flint is not alone; there are many other communities across the United States that face serious challenges," Baldwin, a Democrat, said in a news release. "With technological innovation, we could have better solutions to confront water problems."

Among those problems, Baldwin said, are lead safety, phosphorus reduction, and treatment of bacteria and nitrates.

Baldwin's Water Technology Acceleration Act would:

  • Create an Innovative Water Technology Grant program to fund public-private partnerships that deploy, test and improve emerging water technologies.
  • Help communities use innovative technologies to address drinking water, wastewater and storm runoff challenges. The bill would require the EPA to evaluate barriers to greater adoption of updated water technology and provide technical assistance to communities using new technologies successfully piloted elsewhere.
©2016 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.